WORK EXTENDED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 140, 24 March 1944, Page 2

WORK EXTENDED.

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY. THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS. A branch of the Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was formed at Ashburton last, evening, at a public meeting called by the Mayor (Dr. J. Connor). After the aims and objects of the Society had been outlined by the chairman of the Canterbury Branch (Mr A. D. Ford) the deputy chairman (Mr G. P. Purnell) and Mr A. P. Bridge (a member) a motion that a local branch be formed was proposed by Mr G. H. Nicoll and seconded by Mr C. Y. Ward.

An offer by the Christchurch branch of £SO to assist with the establishment of a society at Ashburton was gratefully received. There was a poor attendance, hut Dr. Connor said he felt sure that public opinion was with the society. Mr G. T. Bullock (secretary of the Christchurch branch) was present.

A provisional committee consisting of Messrs C. Y. Ward, G. H. Nicoll and A. Mitchell, Mesdames H. McLean A. Cairns, H. Graham, J. Arthur and Miss M. Jennings was appointed. The Town Clerk will act as convener in the meantime.

The policy of the Society, said Mr Ford, outlining its aims and objects was to educate the people, for strange as it might seem, much of the cruelty was not intentional, but caused through thoughtlessness. In these cases offenders received a cautionary note from the Society. In one year 187 cautions were issued. A woman worker of the branch visited schools, lecturing classes. The Christchurch Branch, which was established 70 years ago, had an ambulance which picked up injured animals, mostly dogs, in the streets, and conveyed them to the clinic where they were treated. If dogs were registered thenowners were informed, if not. tlm animals were destroyed if not claimed after seven days. The ambulance was equipped with special gas apparatus by which the animals were humanely destroyed if mortally injured. Mr Bridge gave incidents of cruelty to animals. He said he had been instrumental in obtaining the removal of spurs from jockeys’ boots and having the hurdles on racing tracks padded. He approved the appointment of honorary inspectors who were issued with badges of authority, and he gave instances of their usefulness. The problem of stray cats was causing concern to the Canterbury Branch, said Mr Purnell. The branch combined the work of prevention' of cruelty with animal welfare work, hut dealing with stray cats and dogs was outside its scope, and was in the hands of the City Council. What could not he carried out in a city might be successfully done in a small town. The system advocated was that, people troubled with stray animals should he issued with a harmless trap, in which the animal could be caught and delivered to the clinic to be humanely destroyed.